Cougar boys fall to Bulldogs, 74-45

Saturday, January 12, 2008

MONROVIA -- The North Putnam Cougars boys' basketball team traveled to Monrovia Friday night, hoping to hand the Bulldogs their first West Central Conference loss of the season.

However, the very athletic and talented Monrovia team handed North Putnam a loss, 74-45.

The much taller Bulldogs exploded out of the gate, leading the Cougars 24-11 at the end of the first quarter, but North Putnam was able to get balanced scoring in the period from Kyle Alcorn, Griffen Dahlstrom, Jerrett Ban, and Brock Jones.

Monrovia opened-up an 18 point lead with 4:28 left in the second quarter at 34-16, but North Putnam battled back, trailing by only eight points with 2:00 left in the half, as Ban and Alcorn hit three-point shots, Dahlstrom hit a two-point shot and two free throws, and Jones hit a two-point shot in that 2:28 period.

That would turn out to be as close as the Cougars would get to the Bulldogs, as Monrovia steadily pulled away from North Putnam during the rest of the game, to the final score of 74-45.

However, the Cougars were not dispirited after the game.

"We've got a young team, and we are continuing to get better every night," commented North Putnam coach Wes Peek after the game.

"Monrovia is a very good team, and I thought we played offensively very well tonight. I think we are making strides and if you look at the scoreboard, you can't see that, but we are in a building process and that takes some time."

"These guys understand that it takes time to build a program, and I'm really proud of their efforts and their positive attitudes this season," added Peek.

North Putnam had one player scoring double figures, Dahlstrom with 10.

Alcorn followed with nine, Jones and JT Francies had eight each, Ban and Kyle Adams scored four points each, and James Hedrick closed out the Cougar scoring with two points.

Dahlstrom led the Cougars in rebounds with a game-high nine boards, and Ban followed with five.

Dahlstrom also had a game-high three blocked shots, with Francies adding two more.

Mitch Hadley led the Cougars with three assists, and Alcorn, Brock Jones, Dahlstrom, and Francies had two steals each.

The Cougars (1-8, 0-2 WCC) travel to Fountain Central Saturday night (tonight) to play the Mustangs in a non -- conference game. The junior varsity game starts at 6:00.

At Monrovia

North Putnam 11 17 9 8 -- 45

Monrovia 24 20 17 13 -- 74

North Putnam (1-8, 0-2 WCC) -- Hadley 0-6 0-0 0, Alcorn 3-7 2-2 9, Ban 1-6 2-2 4, Jones 3-14 0-0 8, Dahlstrom 3-9 4-4 10, Adams 2-5 0-0 4, Francies 3-7 0-0 8, Hedrick 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 16-56 FG, 8-8 FT, 45 TP.

Monrovia (8-3, 4-0 WCC) -- Speck 6-10 2-2 16, Dillon 5-9 0-1 11, Connor 4-10 1-2 9, Jordan Standeford 0-1 0-0 0, Johnson 1-1 2-2 4, Sampson 3-6 0-0 6, Smith 0-5 0-0 0, Shuee 4-5 0-0 0, Joe Standeford 1-1 0-0 2, Hadley 8-12 2-2 18. Totals 32-60 FG, 7-9, FT, 74 TP.

3-pt. FG - NP 5-24 (Hadley 0-4, Alcorn 1-3, Ban 0-1, Jones 2-10, Dahlstrom 0-1, Francies 2-5), M 3-9 (Speck 2-3, Dillon 1-3, Jordan Standeford 0-1, Sampson 0-1, Smith 0-1). Rebounds - NP 26 (Alcorn 2, Ban 5, Jones 3, Dahlstrom 9, Adams 3, Francies 3, Hedrick 1), M 31 (Speck 5, Dillon 6, Connor 4, Johnson 2, Sampson 2, Smith 3, Shuee 3, Hadley 6). Blocks -- NP 7 (Alcorn 1, Ban 1, Dahlstrom 3, Francies 2), M 6 (Speck 1, Connor 1, Smith 1, Shuee 1, Hadley 2). Assists -- NP 7 (Hadley 3, Alcorn 1, Ban 1, Dahlstrom 2), M 15 (Speck 4, Dillon 2, Connor 2, Johnson 3, Sampson 3, Shuee 1). Steals -- NP 9 (Alcorn 2, Ban 1, Jones 2, Dahlstrom 2, Francies 2), M 10 (Speck 1, Dillon 1, Connor 2, Johnson 3, Sampson 1, Smith 2). Total fouls -- NP 12, M 12. Fouled out -- none. Turnovers - NP 19, M 15.

Next game -- The Cougars (1-8, 0-2 WCC) travel to Fountain Central at 7:30 p.m. tonight.

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